Abstract
BackgroundAcute and chronic alcohol use can cause skeletal muscle myopathy in concert with impairments in skeletal muscle strength, function and fatigue resistance. However, the fundamental contractile deficits induced in the presence of alcohol versus those observed in the recovery period following the clearance of alcohol have not yet been characterized nor is it known whether sex influences these outcomes.MethodsMale and female mice received an intraperitoneal injection of either saline (Control) or ethanol (EtOH; 5g/kg body weight). Muscle force, fatigue, fatigue recovery and twitch characteristics of the posterior crural muscle complex were measured in situ 1 hour and 24 hours post alcohol.ResultsIn the presence of alcohol (1-hour post treatment) absolute and normalized force generated at 80–150 Hertz was decreased in male and female mice with concurrent reductions in the rate of force development and increases in ½ relaxation time. When expressed as a percentage of maximum force, both males and females also displayed an alcohol-induced leftward shift in the force frequency curve indicative of a type I contractile phenotype. Alcohol enhanced fatigue in both males and females but had no effect on force recovery. Following clearance of alcohol (24-hour post treatment), contractile function was completely restored in females while alcohol treated males experienced sustained reductions in absolute force and had enhanced fatigue compared with male controls.ConclusionsIn the presence of alcohol, both males and females exhibited significant declines in muscle force production and enhanced fatigue; however, following complete clearance of the alcohol, females recovered all functional parameters, while males did not.
Highlights
The prevalence of alcohol use is rising and in 2019 almost 26% of people older than 18 reported binge drinking in the prior month defined as drinking 5 or more and 4 or more drinks within a few hour time period [1]
Following clearance of alcohol (24-hour post treatment), contractile function was completely restored in females while alcohol treated males experienced sustained reductions in absolute force and had enhanced fatigue compared with male controls
Voluntary muscle force production was reduced in males and not changed in females when assessed in the 24-48hrs after a muscle damaging exercise protocol and subsequent alcohol consumption [2,8,9], suggesting basic muscle contractile parameters may be disrupted by the prior intoxication
Summary
The prevalence of alcohol use is rising and in 2019 almost 26% of people older than 18 reported binge drinking in the prior month defined as drinking 5 or more (men) and 4 or more (women) drinks within a few hour time period [1]. Assessment of basic parameters of muscle function (e.g. force, fatigue, etc.) in the recovery period following the complete metabolism and clearance of alcohol are currently limited, despite the potentially detrimental effects a sustained loss in muscle function could have on physical performance in either an athletic setting or for those with physically demanding jobs (e.g. law enforcement, military, construction). Voluntary muscle force production was reduced in males and not changed in females when assessed in the 24-48hrs after a muscle damaging exercise protocol and subsequent alcohol consumption [2,8,9], suggesting basic muscle contractile parameters may be disrupted by the prior intoxication. The fundamental contractile deficits induced in the presence of alcohol versus those observed in the recovery period following the clearance of alcohol have not yet been characterized nor is it known whether sex influences these outcomes
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